Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes bushfire - Hester Dam water source being reinstated
Water Corporation is reinstating Hester Dam to supply water to Boyup Brook and Bridgetown following this month’s Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire bushfire.
As a precautionary measure, Hester Dam was taken offline following the fire, with water carted to supplement the local water supply scheme.
Comprehensive water quality testing has shown that the water in Hester Dam is completely safe, in line with Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, enabling the dam to be brought back online from tomorrow (25 February 2022).
Water quality monitoring of Hester Dam will be ongoing, in accordance with managing drinking water sources.
With water carting now ceasing, residents in Boyup Brook and Bridgetown are no longer required to restrict their water use to essential purposes, however, continued waterwise behaviour is encouraged to help save water.
Water Corporation extends its appreciation and thanks to the local communities for their patience and cooperation while the impacts of the bushfire were being managed.
Water supply faults and issues should be reported to Water Corporation’s 24/7 Operations Centre on 13 13 75 (24/7).
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Update #4: as at 14:00, Friday, 11 February 2022
Situation:
- Scheme water supply to all areas remains safe and secure, however, customers are asked to limit non-essential water use to help maintain supply.
- Water quality testing at Hester Dam has returned no contaminant levels in excess of Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, and no pathogen levels of concern although turbidity is elevated due to ash.
- However, the dam will remain offline as a precautionary measure while investigations in potential environmental contamination linked to a nearby timber mill are investigated. The community will continue to receive water from Bridgetown Reservoir which was not impacted during the fires.
- Water Corporation is continuing to supply residents in Boyup Brook with water carted from Collie while work to restore power and damage assets progresses.
Customer advice:
- Residents in Boyup Brook and Bridgetown are being asked to restrict their water use to help manage additional demand.
- Hester residents not connected to scheme water and with household water tanks are encouraged seek advice from the Department of Health before consuming tank water owing to potential airborne contaminants.
- Our thoughts are with those impacted by the fires. Water Corporation extends its appreciation to firefighters and all those who have worked tireless to protect lives and property.
Update #3: as at 15:00, Sunday, 8 February 2022
Situation:
- Scheme water supply to all areas remains safe and secure, however, customers are asked to limit non-essential water use to help maintain supply.
- The bushfire has damaged power supply to a water pump station in the area. To maintain supply to Boyup Brook, water is currently being carted from Collie to nearby holding tanks and being gravity fed to the town.
- Crews were yesterday able to access and repair a damaged water main feeding Hallet’s Tank near Hester.
- Water to Hester townsite is normally supplied from Hester Dam. Potential hazardous material contamination caused by damage to a nearby timber mill means water is not currently being drawn from Hester Dam.
- Instead, water supply to Hester has been switched to the Bridgetown Reservoir which has not been affected by the fire. Scheme drinking water supplied into Hester remains safe.
- Water quality testing is being carried out, and the dam will not be brought back online until results confirm it meets 100 per cent of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
- Ongoing updates will be provided to the community when information becomes available.
Customer advice:
- Residents in Boyup Brook and Bridgetown are being asked to restrict their water use to help manage additional demand.
- Hester residents not connected to scheme water and with household water tanks are encouraged seek advice from the Department of Health before consuming tank water owing to potential airborne contaminants.
- Our thoughts are with those impacted by the fires. Water Corporation extends its appreciation to firefighters and all those who have worked tireless to protect lives and property.
Update #2: as at 15:00, Sunday, 6 February 2022
Residents in Boyup Brook and Bridgetown are being asked to restrict their water use to help manage the additional demand for firefighting water.
Water is being carted to Boyup Brook to supplement the town’s supply, which is affected by a power outage, and work is under way to stabilise Bridgetown’s water supply.
There remains an ongoing risk of disruption to water and wastewater services across the wider bushfire-affected areas due to the impact on power supplies.
Further updates, as required, will be provided on the Water Corporation website.
Any customer with special water needs should call Water Corporation’s 24/7 Operations Centre on 13 13 75.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the bushfires.
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Update #1: as at 08:00, Sunday, 6 February 2022
Residents in Boyup Brook are being asked to restrict their water use, following the impact of the Bridgetown-Greenbushes bushfire.
The fire has cut power to the pump stations that supply the town’s water tank, so the water level in the tank cannot be maintained. Water Corporation crews are currently unable to access the area, which is under DFES control, due to the fire risk.
Water will be carted to the town to supplement the supply but, in the interim, residents are asked to conserve water supply, where possible.
It is not yet known when the water supply will be fully restored to Boyup Brook but further updates will be provided on the Water Corporation website.
Any customer with special water needs should call Water Corporation’s 24/7 Operations Centre on 13 13 75.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the bushfires.
During a bushfire your mains water supply can't be guaranteed
Your mains water supply may be impacted when there is a bushfire. You may have low water pressure, or no water supply available.
As well as power outages affecting our equipment and systems, it can also be due to heat-damaged water infrastructure, and high demand that can quickly empty water supply tanks.
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Media contact:
Water Corporation media team (24/7)
P: (08) 9420 2555
E: media@watercorporation.com.au